Frankfurt machine



Nov. 27, 1928. 1,692,956

. 'r. c. RUSS ELL FRANKFURT MACHINE Filed June 13, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l,i a H will E L. v u

Nov. 27, 1928. 1,692,956

I T. C. RUSSELL FRANKFURT MACHINE v @wanlldmbnflw Nov. 27, 1928.1,692,956 T. C. RUSSELL FRANKFURT MACHINE Filed June 13, 1927. '4Sheets-Sheet 5 v fizaezzib? 5 15 7720/2245 C favor/Z Z9 WHUM Y dwa T. c.RUSSELL FRANKFURT MACHINE Nov. 27, 1928.

Filed June 13, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ffassel/ "4 c/2% 5 [120"612 to?7220mm? 6. fyflumd,

Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

THOMAS C. RUSSELL, 01* EVANSTON, ILLII\ TOIS, ASSIGIIQB TO ADAM. H,KULIKOVSK-I,

' OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

FRANKFURT MACHINE.

Application 7 filed June 13,

This invention relates to Frankfurt roasting machines and its object isthe provis on of a generally improved, simplified and inexpensivemachine producing improved results and suitable for public display.

The present invention-provides for auto matically discharging theFrankfurts at the end of the cooking period and forautomaticallydelivering them to a heated storage bin where they may bekept in proper heated condition.

The inventionalso provides suitable bun or roll storage compartments andfor heating these and the Frankfurt bin from the cools, ing heater, theFrankfurt bin to a hi ghertem perature than the bun or roll compartmentsto maintain both the Frankfurts and the rolls in 'proper heatedcondition notwithstanding their different character and their differentheat requirements.

The invention further provides a sectionalized heating arrangement inwhich the heat output may be conveniently controlled to meet differentcooking requirements. Duri ng dull hours when the machine isoperating atonly a fraction of its full capacity the heater sections, not required,maybe turned off and when the machine is operating at. full capacity theheater sections may allbe turned on to provide the corresponding maximumheat output. It is unnecessary in the present machine to use the full.heat output whenthe machine is operating at only afraction of its fullcapacity. V I

Still further the invention provides for minimizing heat losses byradiation and otherwise The-invention also provides for draining thegrease away, as it is formed and with a minimum of smoking andpre-heating as Well as in such a manner that the succeeding Frankfurtsare not subjected. thereto. The invention further provides a sanitarymachine in which dirt andgrease accumulations are avoided and inwhichjall. vapors and odors are effectively shut-off from the room anddischarged through a suitable flue arrangement.

The machine requires little attention in operation, makes a pleasingdisplay and the entire Frankfurt and roll or bunstorage box is adaptedfor convenient removal to permit complete access to themachine forcleaning or attention.

Whilethe advantages-of such provisions as these in a cooking machine ofthis sort Will Serial No. 193,629.

panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of. a machine embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side ele'vational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line Fig. 4 is a rear viewwith the back wall of the machine partially broken away;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentarydetail section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail elevation of the conveyor; i i

Fig. 8 is a detail section taken onthe line 88 of Fig.7;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on the line v99 of Fig. 3; p t

Fig. 10 is a detail cross section through one of the trough formingchannels showing the disposition of the heater therein, and shoW- ingthe mannerof closing the same against heat losses and grease ingress;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail section taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 1and i Fig. 12 is a: circuit diagram. showing the heater and motorcircuit connections.

Referring to the drawings the machine shown comprises an upright sheetmetal housing 5 having a base 6 and side Walls 8, 8. The rear verticalmarginal edge of each of the side walls 8, 8 has angle guides 9 suitablysecured thereto at 12 with their transversely extending flanges spacedto receive the adj acent vertical margins of a removable back wall is(Fig. 6) which is slidahly mounted in the guides 9 to be convenientlyWithdrawn and replaced. By lifting or completely withdrawing the hack 1%the rear of the housing 5 is opened and convenient access to the insideof the machine is permitted.

The bottom of thehousingf) is closed by the base or bottom wall 5 andthe housing may be suitably supported on feet 15. The vertical frontWall 16 is relatively short, as shown angle member 20 and a suitablymounted amount of heat.

downwardly and inwardly inclined flange or bracket 21 which supports thelower end or" the diagonal or inclined cooking troughs designatedgenerally at 22 with their side enclosures. The back 01" the machine isprovided internally and near the top with an angle bracket 23 which isfixedly secured and preferably independently of the slidable back 1% andwhich serves to suitably support the upper ends of the cooking troughs22.

At the back of the machine and extending vertically is a stack 24 havingside walls 25 and a front wall 26, which front wall is pro vided with anopening 2, through which the roasted or cooked Frankturts are dischargedfrom the machine. The opening 27 may be provided with a suitableswingable door or this opening may be otherwis suitably enclosed or.semi-enclosed to exclude the discharge of vapors or odors therefrom. Thestack discharges into a line 28 which may be suitably led out. todischarge the smoke, vapor-s, odors and t is like, to the outside or atleast out of the room in which the cooking machine is arranged.

The cooking troughs 22 are formed by a plurality of channels 3O whichare preterably formed of German silver or other suitable metal ormaterial having a minimum undesirable action on the Frankturts or otherarticles or food which is cooked. The closed bases 32 of the channels 80are rounded as showiiin Fig. 10 and these closed rounded bases arepresented outwardly and upwardly. The parallel sides 33 of each channelare spaced relatively close together and housed in each channel 30 andbetween the relatively closely spaced parallel sides 33 is a suitableheater designated generally at 34 in Fig. 10.

Each heater 84- comprises a suitable resistance conductor 35 which maybe bent back and forth at 36 10) and doubled over at 37 with mica orother suitable insulating material interposed between the doubled oversides of the resistance element and also wrapped over and covering thsame, as shown at 38. The heater may be of any suit, able or preferredconstruction, that shown providing a heating element which is fiat,accommodates itself admirably between the sides 33 of the channels 30and at the same time provides for giving oil the desired These heaters34. extend through the channels 30 from the lower support 21 butpreferably terminate a distance from the. upper support 23. They extenda distance to provide the desired cooking or roasting period in. themovement of the Frankturts through the troughs 22 from where they areintroduced at the lower ends of the troughs to a point in their upwardinclined travel. The Frankfurts are discharged from the upper ends ofthe troughs 22 through the opening 27 and the heaters may terminateshort of the position of the Frankfurts in the troughs 22 from whichthey are discharged therefrom so that there will be no unnecessaryheating of the troughs afterthe Frankfurts have been discharged,

that is, there will be no unnecessary heating of the upper portions ofthe troughs from which the hrankturts are discharged. The resistanceelcn'ients 35 explained pi'e'lerably doubled back to provide alreadyn'ients 30 are rolled over and beaded at 45. securing the asbestos sheet43' and underlying plate cl ily inplace each channel 30.

/Vhen the 'channels iiO are arranged together in parallel spacedrelationthey form the cooking troughs 22 between them. These troughs 22open-outwardly and their bottoms are formed by the lower flared mar insof the channels 30, these flared in ns being separated slightly toprovide the slots 48. one of which extends continuously through thebottom of each cooking trough.

The Frankfurt carrier is in the endless conveyor comprising a lesschains onebeyond group of cooking troughs, as shown in Fig. 4:. Eachchain 50 is trained over and driven at the top by suitable sprockets the.yjournaled at upon opposite sides of the niacnine.

The Frankfurtcarrier or conveyor may be driven by a suitable electricmotor supported upon. a shelf 61 which extends across and IS in turnsupported at its oppos teends on angle members 62suitably secure to theside walls The motor slatt 53 drives a worm 6% which meshes with and inturn drives a worm wheel 65 suitably tired upon a vertical drive shaft66 to turn the san'ie therewith. The shatt 66 is jeurnaled'at its lowerend at 67 and near its upper end 68 and. above the bearing 68 the shaft66 has a worm 69 which meshes with and drives a worm wheel 70 fixed uponthe cross shaft 56 to turn the T16 therewith.

The conveyor or carrier chains 50 have l) ti slats 72 extendingtransversely therebetween and suit-ably secured at 73 attheir oppositeends thereto. These slats- 72 and'the chains constitute a unitaryconveyor which when the V a-heated storage bin 90 having a centralheat--motor is-turned on travels over the sprockets 52 and 53, theouter runo't'this-eonveyor traveling beneath thechannels- 30L Secured atWithiough suitable angle bases to the slats 72 are the prongs 75' whichfeed the Franlrfurts through the troughs 22 with the move ment of theconveyor or carrier. The num ber of prongs 75 on each slat 72 is equalto the number of slots 48,-that is, the number ofprongs on each slat isequalto the number of troughs 22 so that each slat 72 willv have a prong7 5 for each'trough 22. The prongs 7 Sin the outer run of the conveyor"project through the slots -18 and operate centrally and longitudinallythrough the troughs 22. They are spaced in the direction of travel ofthe conveyor sufli ciently to receive the Franle furts therebetween, asshown in dotted lines at 78 in Fig. 3. This spacing may, of course, bevaried or even adjustable if desired.

Extendingtransverselybeneath the troughs 22 near the'upper endsthereotis across shaft 80 having; aplurality of'fingers 82 fined on this shaft80 to turn therewith. The fingers 82 extend into andare swingable one ineach I of the troughs 22 andthe shaftSO is normally held in positionwith the fingers 82 positioned as shown in full lines in Fig; 5 bysuitable counterweight means-83 on an arm 84 (Fig.

' 5) fixed to the shaft 80. In operation the Frankfurts or otherarticles are laid in'the troughs 22between the prongs 7 5 as theystarttheir upward movement throughthe troughs. That is the Frankfurtsare introduced at the lower ends of the troughs which lower ends openoutwardly and'are exposed at 85 (Figs. 1 and 3). They'are introduced ustahead of the prongs 75 they start their upward inclined movement and asthe conveyor travels over the sprockets 52 and 53 the llOIlgS 75:1novethe Frankfurts diago nally'upwardly through the trouarh, 22 intoposition near theupper ends of the troughs and for discharge through theopening 27. As the Frank-turt's reach this position the fingers 82. areswune' from their fullline positions, as shown in Fig. 5 to their dottedline positions, turning the Frankturts over and 'dischargingthemfrointhe' troughs through the opening 27.

The fingers 82'are swung into their dotted line positions-by an arm 86pivoted at 87 on aibmcket 88. The arm 86 has an angular poition 89'whi ch lies in the'p'ath of the slats 72 near the upper limitv of theirupward movement andas the slats 72'ena'age the angular portion. 89 ofthe arm 86' this arm is swung into itsdottedlinepositionthcreby, asshown in Fig. 5, its free angular end engaging the arm 84 and turningthe sh aft 80 to swing the fingers 821I1t'0 their dotted linepositionsdischarging the Frankfurts at the upper endso'f thetroughs22 with thecooperation ofeach slat 72 with the arm 86.

The front of the machine is provided with ed Frankfurt storagecompartment 92 and a compartment 93 on each of the opposite sides of:the same for storing; rollsor buns for making up sandwiches, forexample; The Frankfurt inlet 945' at the top of the compartment 92 maybe closed by a trap door 95 pivoted at 96 and normally closed by acounterweight 97 As the Frankfurts are discharged from the upper ends ofthe troughs 22 they strikethedoor 95 swinging it intothe position shownin'dotted lines in Fig. 3 and pass on into the heated storagecompartment 92. The-top of this compartment may be closed'by a wall 98and'the tops of the side compartments '93 are preferably open andprovided with a door 99 pivoted at 100 and provided with a finger piecelOl' by means of which the door 99 may be swung into itsopen dotted lineposition for the-introduction of rolls buns into the side compartments93. The lower ends of the compartments 92 and 93 may be closed by a door103-having transparent panes 104 through which the interiors of thecompartments 92 and 93 maybe viewed. The door 103 may be held closed bvalatch 105 and is preferably pivoted at itslower end' tobe swung into theopen dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit convenientwithdrawal oif' the Frankfurts and buns from the lower ends oi. thecompartments 92 and 93. as desired.

From the foregoing: it will be apparent that the Frankfurt storage bin92 which is sepa rate from the bun or roll bins 93 overlies the heatersand is heated directly thereby, whereas the compartments 93 by theirside disposal are heated by radiation from the directly heatedcompartment 92 and from the heaters 34;. I This heats the compartment 92to a higher temperature than the compartments93 keeping; theFranlr-furtsgood and warm and in proper condition for sale as called to]; and at thesame time keeping the buns or rolls warm without heating them to asgreat an extent as the Frankturts. i For maiutainin the condition of thestored Frankfurts the bin 92 maybe provided at the bottom with a pan ortrough 108 (Fig. 3) open at'thetop and holding a body'of water, asshown. The opentop oi" the pan or trouah 108 may be covered with ascreen 109, which will prevent the Frankfiurts from falling into thewater and which will at the same time perinit the vapor to pass oilfreely into the bin 92 the wall 115.

' bin may be replaced by replacing it upon the machine and engaging thelugs 112 through the openings 114.- and with the upper edge of Suitablymounted inward and c:-: ending diagonally beneath the cooking troughs 22is a drip plate or grease shield 120 which receives the grease as itdrips from the Frankfurts in their upward inclined travel and directsthe same downwardly to the pan or drawer18, as

shown in Fig. 3. Obviously, the slots 18 in addition to permitting theprongs 75 to' pass therethrough and into the cooking troughs providecontinuous drain slots through which the grease may drip vertically asformed, and without running down on the Frankfurts below. This avoidsany undesirable action on the following Frankfurts and preventspreheating of the grease, minimizing smoking and making for a sanitarymachine in. which there are no dirt or grease accumulations.Furthermore, the rolling of the beads 15 along the marginal. edges ofthe spread ends of the channels 30 drains the grease down and away fromthe heaters 3 1. The grease shield 120 may, of course, be slidablymounted for convenient removal, as desired. Such a mounting is shown at121 in 9 with the fixed or stationary sides 123 suitably secured to thesides 124: which enclose the diagonal front of the machine .along thesides of the cooking troughs As shown in Fig. 12 the heaters 84 and themotor are supplied with current from suitable line conductors 125 and126. For this purpose the heater and motorcircuit of the machine may beprovided with a suitable detachable connector for connection with anysuitable or preferred current outlet, such as,

for example, an Edison outlet. well.

known in the art. The motor may be a Universal motor or it may beadapted for A. C. or D. C. current as desired.

The heaters 8 1 may be connected in pairs, as shown, each pair beingcontrolled by a suitable switch 128. The: heater circuit is preferablyso connected that the circuit through anypair of heaters cannot beclosed without closing the motor circuit which is controller by asuitable switch 130. Obviously, by closing the switch 130 the circuitthrough the motor 60 is closed and the Frankfurt carrier or conveyor isdriven thereby to move the prongs 7 5 upwardly through the cookingtroughs 22. Then by closing the switch controlling the two heaters 3 1to the left, as viewed in Fig. 12 the opposite. sides of the cookingtroughs to the left are heated. .W' hen the switch for the two heaters 3lto the right, as viewed in Fig. 12, is closed the opposite sides of therighthand cooking trough are heated and by closing the circuit throughthe intermediate or central two heaters the three intermediate troughs22 are heated on each side. v

The switches 128 are selectively and induspendently controllable so thatthe heating may be sectionalized, asdesired. It is, therefore,unnecessary to run the machine fully heated under minimum cooking loador 'dur' ing idle periods. The heaters for one cock ing trough may beturned on' when the output from that trough is sufiicient and when it isdesired two troughs may be turned on or three or all of them. Thisfurther minimizes the heat loss during idle periods.

lt ferely as illustrative of a particular-embodiment of the inventiontherev are four Frankfurts cooking in each trough 22 all of the time,provided all troughs are operating and Frankfurt-s are beingintroducedat the bottom of each as they are clischarged froni, the topor upper ends. One trough turns out or discharges say, one cookedFrankfurtpcr minutes, which would result in each Frankfui't cookingabout four minutes from its in troduction into the bottom of the troughto its discharge from the upper end of the trough. This may, of course,all be varied, as

desired, and is referredto merely as illustrative of a particularembodiment of the in vention. V V Obviously, the Frankfurts do notrequire attention upon being introduced into the ma chine to determinewhether or not they have been cooked or roasted sufficiently, but uponbeing once introduced are automatically discharged at the end of apredetermined period,

which may be'regulated to determinethe'desired'cooking. The, speed oftravel of the carrier or conveyor may be. changed by changing the ratioof the worms and cooperat ing'worm wheels. The cooked Frankfurts areautomatically delivered to a heated storbin which maintains them inproper condition until sold or called for. The machine may beconveniently opened or disassembled for inspection, cleaning or repairand in use is effectively closed against heat losses and against theescape of vapors or odors into the room. The grease delivered to the'pan18 may be removed from time to time merely by withdrawing and replacingthispan.

I claim 1. In combination, a longitudinal cooking trough, heater meansextending along said trough, an endless conveyor operable adjacent saidtrough, means on said conveyor and for feeding the articles through'saidtrough with the movement of the conveyor, Said trough being inclined andhaving means to permit grease to drain vertically therefrom as formed, adrip pan underlying said trough for receiving the grease from saidtrough, a storage bin overlying said cookingtrough and heated by saidheater means, means for automatically discharging the articles as cookedfrom said conveyor and into said compartment, and means on said conveyorfor actuating said last means with the movement of the conveyor.

2. In combination, a longitudinal cooking trough, heater means extendingalong said trough, an endless conveyor operable adjacent said trough,means on said conveyor for feeding the articles through said trough Withthe movement of the conveyor, said trough being inclined and havingmeans to permit grease to drain vertically therefrom as formed, a drippan underlying said trough for receiving the grease from said trough, astorage bin overlying said cooking trough and heated by said heatermeans, means for automatically discharging the articles as cooked fromsaid conveyor and into said central compartment, means on said conveyorfor actuating said last means-With the movement of tl re conveyor, avertical enclosing casing, and a flue stack leading off from the top ofthe casing adj acent the upper end of the cooking trough.

3. In combination, a longitudinally slotted cooking trough, heater meansextending along said trough, an endless conveyor operable adjacent saidtrough, prongs on said conveyor and extending through the slot in saidtrough for feeding the articles through said trough With the movement ofthe conveyor, said trough being inclined to permit grease to drainvertically through said slot as formed, a drip pan underlying said slotfor receiving the grease from said'trough, a storage bin overlying saidcooking trough and heated by said heater means, said storage bin com'arising a detachably mounted bin having a centrally disposed Frankfurtstorage compartment heated directly by said heater means, compartmentson opposite sides of said central compartment heated by radiationtherefrom and adaptedfor storing buns, means for automaticallydischarging the articles as cooked from said conveyor and into'saidcentral compartment, means on said conveyor for actuating said lastmeans with the movement of the conveyor, a vertical enclosing casing, aflue stack leading off from the top of the casing adjacent the upper endof the cooking trough, a driving motor Within the casing, a drivingconnection from said motor to said conveyor, and a slidably mounted backWall adapted to be opened or removed to permit access to the interior ofthe casing, a

1 4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of anenclosing casing having vertical sides and a 'slidably removable back, aplurality of cooking troughs inclined from the front of the casing andsupported adjacent the back and near the top of the casing, a verticalstack opening upwardly from' the back of the casing, and a storage bindetachably supported over said cooking troughs, said stack having anopening for the delivery of cooked articles from said troughs to saidbin. e

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an enclosingcasing having vertical sides and a slidably removable Wall,

a plurality of cooking troughs inclined from' the front of the casingand supported adj acent the back and near the top of the casing, avertical stack opening upwardly from the back of the casing, a storagebin supported over said cooking troughs, said stack having an openingfor the delivery of cooked articles from said troughs to said bin, anendless conveyor for feeding the articles through said troughs, andmeans actuated by the movement of said conveyor for discharging thearticles from said troughs through said stack and into said storage bin.v

In Witness Whereof,I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of June,1927.

THOMAS C. RUSSELL.

